By BROOKE GOLDMAN

LAPLACE – Jefferson Parish resident and Certified Public Accountant, Philip Rebowe, who has prepared campaign finance reports for several area public officials, including St. John the Baptist Parish Councilman Duaine Duffy, is under investigation by the Legislative Auditor’s office for an alleged violation of the state ethics code.

Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle said Rebowe has performed free or reduced-fee tax returns for politicians.

He said this violates the ethics code, which states work can not be done for free or at a reduced rate once a vendor provides a value to a public body.

“This person (the customer) can not be given anything of value,” said Kyle. “Once in a contract, Rebowe becomes a vendor.”

Kyle said his office first suspected Rebowe was doing this in November.

On Nov. 14, Kyle said his office suspended Rebowe’s firm, Rebowe & Company, from receiving approval of any additional engagement letters for government bodies.

“He has to show us documentation and meet with the ethics board,” said Kyle. “Rebowe wants a (expedited) ruling but he may not get that.”

Kyle said his office had a similar problem with another CPA recently who agreed to cease the arrangement.

“We have no problem with CPA’s and their client relations,” said Kyle. “My take is that it’s my responsibility to protect the public’s interest.”

Kyle said this ethics issue is not about campaign finance reports Rebowe performed free of charge for politicians but an issue of being a vendor and performing free or reduced-rate work.

The Louisiana ethics code states, “No public servant shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person.”

Duffy said Rebowe did perform a campaign finance report free of charge to him.

“I was more than happy to pay him, but he said it was not necessary,” said Duffy. “He said it was a small token of report filing.”

A report of this nature tends to cost under $50, Duffy said.

“Rebowe did donate an ‘in-kind’ campaign contribution,” said Duffy. “But Rebowe said it wasn’t necessary to report it, it was like giving someone ice at a party.”

Duffy added, “The odds he is at with Dan Kyle are over issues in Kenner and do not affect me. His firm did a great job with the parish’s audit.”

Duffy also said Rebowe was very helpful in whatever he has been asked to do in the political and civil arenas. Duffy said his wife was the treasurer of St. John Theater and Rebowe was helpful with the tax forms there and his help was free of charge.

St. John Parish Council Chairman Cleveland Farlough said Rebowe did not give him an “in-kind” campaign contribution and has never done his income taxes.

However, Rebowe does do an audit for the parish, Farlough said.

“As far as I know he has paid for that (the audit),” said Farlough.

In a letter written to Rebowe Nov. 14, Kyle requested he provide him with a list of “all gifts, things of value, free services, or reduced price services given to any public servant or public official within Louisiana for the last three years for whose organization you served as auditor, wheter given by you, by your firm, by one of the firm’s employees individually, or by the firm or its employees through an affiliation with another organization or individual.”

Kyle said Rebowe recently dropped off some paperwork and discussed the issue with him.